PAST EVENTS
The IPWG began its work by seeking to identify people in the community who shared its concern about militarization. Our public events intend to draw such people together in the hope they might partner with us in engaging local faith and secular communities in study of and deliberation on the subject.
WATCH: The Power & Promise of Nonviolent Action
with Dr. Maria J. Stephan
Award-winning author of Why Civil Resistance Works, diplomat and activist Dr. Maria Stephens shares experiences of successful nonviolent actions throughout history and around the world.
September Evensong for Peace: Paula Rogge’s Remarks
Dr. Paula Rogge, a member of the Madison Friends meeting and Physicians for Social Responsibility, gave the message at Interfaith Peace Working Group’s September Evensong for Peace service. Below is a summary of Paula’s remarks.
The underlying theme of Paula’s message was Love. Jesus’ taught that the entire message of the law and prophets is summed up in love, a love that is universal and embraces strangers and even our enemies. In fact the New Testament teaches the GOD IS LOVE. She mentioned that love and compassion is important not only in Christianity but also in the teaching of most world religions and emphasized that faith communities see love not as an idea, but as action and often quite assertive action. Metaphorically we can think of love as two-handed action. With one hand we try to stop harmful practices and with the other we reach out our adversaries, recognizing our common humanity. As an example, she pointed to nonviolent actions such as protests, boycotts and acts of civil disobedience through which we say no to war but through which, because they are nonviolent, we also relate to our adversaries with respect and good will. Paula gave examples of nonviolent resistance campaigns inspired by several different world religions and then looked at nonviolent campaigns for peace and justice in our own country, particularly those led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In the last section of her presentation, Paula shared her own journey toward nonviolence, beginning with an experience she had as a child of 8 or 9. She ended by describing her action of opposing war by withholding payment of her federal income taxes and redirecting the tax money she owed to groups working to meet basic human needs and promote justice and nonviolence. She shared her experience as a tax resister, which included having her salary garnished, having money seized from her bank accounts, having her car towed away and sold in and IRA action, and being seen as a criminal by some people. She also expressed gratitude for the support she experienced from fellow tax resisters, Quakers, members of the peace community and some of the people she worked with in hospitals and emergency rooms. For example, one fellow emergency room doctor bought back her old car from the used car dealer who had bought it at the IRS auction and returned it to her office all spiffed up. She named it “Silver Lining.” She also mentioned that through her tax resistance she had gotten to know several IRS employees, learned to see them as people like her and to have interesting conversations with them.
Trillions for the Military: Will that make us secure?
November 2017, edgewood college
Speaker: Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Having stood alongside people in war zones, Kathy has spoken and written about the futility of U.S. militarism, the terrible consequences of U.S. Wars, and the positive, proven potential for nonviolent resistance to war and injustice.
Demilitarizing for a Brighter Future
february 2018, madison christian community
Speaker: Lindsay Koshgarian, National Priorities Project Program Director
Lindsay documented what the U.S. spends on the military and what could be done with that money to meet human needs. The mission of her organization is to inspire individuals and movements to take action so that our federal resources prioritize peace, shared prosperity, and economic security for all.
Hunger and Hope in the Federal Budget … An Insider’s View
april 2018, edgewood college
Speaker: Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Social Justice Lobby
Sister Simone spoke about what she has seen and heard in her travels, especially on the “Nuns on the Bus” cross-country trips. She focused on topics like economic justice and immigration reform, and explained why compassion and love can be a basis for policy choices and priorities for Federal spending.
Sponsors of one or more of these events included the COR General Education Program at Edgewood College; the Madison Rafah Sister City Project; Physicians for Social Responsibility–Wisconsin; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; the Wisconsin Network for Peace, Justice, & Sustainability; the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ; and Sinsinawa Dominican Office of Peace & Justice.
DVDs of each of these programs are available on request.
Co-Sponsored Events
Dr. Ira Helfand Talk on Nuclear Disarmament – April 2018
Lanterns for Peace Commemoration of Hiroshima/Nagasaki Bombings – August 2018
Dr. Bob Block and Vicki Elson Talks on Nuclear Disarmament and Divestment – October 2018
Gaza Clean Water Project
Building Unity Project
Advocacy
Fall 2017 – We joined representatives of Physicians for Social Responsibility–Wisconsin, the Outrider Foundation, Veterans for Peace and the Womens’ International League for Peace and Freedom to lobby Senator Baldwin’s staff for support of bills that would cut funding for U.S. nuclear weapons modernization and prohibit the first use of nuclear weapons by the U.S.
Fall 2018 – We joined Physicians for Social Responsibility–Wisconsin at a press conference calling for the Madison City Council to pass a “Back from the Brink” nuclear weapon disarmament/divestment resolution.